WEST UKRAINIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 West Ukrainian National University is opening a new chapter in the development of youth education—a STEM school for gifted students of Ternopil, which will operate on the basis of the STEM Lab of the Education and Research Center for Communications at WUNU.

This unique educational platform will launch on October 4 and, over the course of two months (until December 6, 2025), will become a venue for shaping a new generation of thoughtful, creative, and confident young leaders.

Why a STEM school?
As part of a Ukrainian-American project implemented with the support of the VOVK Foundation, BlueCheck Ukraine, and the International Institute of Communications, 15 of the most promising students in grades 9–11 from Ternopil will be able to immerse themselves in the modern world of knowledge and practical solutions.

The STEM school curriculum combines five key areas that together form a well-rounded, creative, and confident personality. Participants will develop analytical thinking and the ability to find effective solutions, master technological literacy and digital creativity, learn to turn ideas into real projects, train psychological flexibility, creativity, and self-confidence, and improve their self-presentation and pitching skills so that their ideas sound convincing at the international level.

Who creates this atmosphere of innovation?
Behind every great idea is a team of people who don't just work, but inspire, energize, and open new horizons for those around them. They are the creators of a space where science becomes an adventure and learning becomes creativity.

Oksana Koval is the head of the STEM project, director of WUNU's Education and Research Center for Communications, chair of the board of the International Institute of Communications NGO, associate professor of the Department of Economic Cybernetics and Informatics, and associate professor of the S. I. Yuriy Department of Finance. Her energy and strategic vision transform the STEM school into a true platform for innovation, where ideas gain strength and talented young people spread their wings for flight.

Diana Boiko is the coordinator of STEM-lab, a specialist of the Education and Research Center for Communications at WUNU, and a lecturer in social and psychological disciplines at the WUNU College of Entrepreneurship, Law and IT. She is the heart of the organization and the driver of communication between people and technology. Thanks to her ability to combine different areas and people, the educational process becomes dynamic and lively.

Mariia Shesterniak – PhD in Economics, Associate Professor of the Department of Auditing at WUNU, leading specialist at the Education and Research Center for Communications. A person of consistency and harmony, she provides a solid scientific foundation for the project. Her attention to detail and ability to strike a balance between theory and practice create a sense of stability and high quality.

The STEM school will employ teachers who turn science into an exciting adventure. Each of them will open up a new world for students—from precise calculations to creative experiments, from technological discoveries to confident presentations in English.

Mariia Bryhadyr holds a PhD in Psychology, is an associate professor of the Department of Psychology and Social Work and a leading specialist at the WUNU Education and Research Center for Communications, as well as a talented psychotherapist. She will head the Creative Mindset Studio and guide participants into a space of inner strength and creative freedom. Here, students will experience how the psychology of confidence helps overcome barriers and transform doubts into resources, learn to find unconventional solutions, and train emotional flexibility to remain resilient even in difficult situations. This is an environment where everyone can think boldly, act decisively, and discover the potential that makes a person a leader.

Oksana Bashutska holds a PhD in Economics and is an associate professor at the Department of Economic Cybernetics and Informatics at WUNU. She will immerse participants in the world of mathematics and problem-solving logic. Together with her, students will discover the beauty of formulas and equations, understand how analytical thinking works, and experience mathematics as a real tool for solving real-life and scientific problems.

Valentyn Malenchak is a talented computer science teacher at Ternopil Secondary School No. 23, a CodeCraft coach, and a real find for the STEM school. He will be the guide to the world of programming and computer modeling. His classes will transform dry algorithms into exciting digital projects, where each student will be able to create their own tool, embody an idea in code, and feel like a real inventor and architect of future technologies.

Nazar Ivanitskyi and Diana Krysak will form a powerful duo of mentors in digital design and 3D modeling. Nazar is the head of the digital transformation division at WUNU, a graduate student, and a lecturer at the Department of Economic Cybernetics and Informatics. He will help students master the art of three-dimensional thinking, teach them how to create prototypes and bring their boldest ideas to life. Diana is the deputy head of the digital transformation division at WUNU and a talented web designer who will introduce students to the world of modern 3D printing and scanning tools. Together, they will guide participants from ideas to tangible objects, showing how imagination comes to life in technology and becomes reality.

Viktoriia Korobii is an interpreter at WUNU's International Relations Office and a CELTA-certified teacher of English. She'll guide participants through the STEM-English Pitching Lab, where every student will learn to wield the power of words, express their thoughts clearly and convincingly, and confidently present their projects in English. Under her guidance, participants will not only be able to speak English, but also confidently present their ideas, conduct effective pitches, and captivate their audience. Each presentation will become a tool that transforms thoughts into compelling messages and schoolchildren's projects into ideas that can be heard on an international level.

What can participants expect?
Discussions, team challenges, creative experiments, practical developments, confident presentations, teamwork, unity, and most importantly, an atmosphere of drive and belief in one's own abilities.

After attending the school, participants will present their own interdisciplinary STEM projects that will have practical significance for the city and community. Each graduate will receive a certificate, gifts, and the most successful ones will receive scholarships from partner organizations.
The future is closer than it seems. And it starts here—at the STEM School of the West Ukrainian National University.